Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read the story about how Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image and commanded all people to worship it. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to do so. They would not worship anyone but the true and living God. How firm are we to resist peer pressure or what other people are trying to persuade us to do? Can we refuse to do what we know is wrong, no matter what other people say or do? Dan. 3: 1, 4-12 "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

In the D&C we're warned that we need to give diligent heed to the words of the Lord and live by every one of them that proceeds from the mouth of God. D&C 84: 43-45 "And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

Some verses with a thought booklet outline wonderful blessings that attend us when we keep the commandments of God. He will walk with us and be our God and we will be His people. How very important that we keep the commandments and do what the Lord asks us to do! Does this mean that if we live righteously, we'll be healthy and wealthy and have no trials or problems? I don't think so. Some of the best people I know have suffered terrible tribulations. Look what Jesus, who was perfect, went through. But it does mean that we'll receive rich spiritual blessings if we do what's right. We'll have joy and peace in our close relationship with the Lord, and He'll help us get through whatever comes our way. What a rich blessing it is to have Him walk with us through life. Lev. 26: 3-4, 12 "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people."


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